At Dayton Children’s Hospital, our certified and fellowship trained sports medicine experts are dedicated to the care of athletes. And because our team is specially trained in pediatrics, we understand how an injury may impact growth, or how growth might impact rehabilitation and for a growing athlete, it can mean a huge difference in recovery and return to play.

conditions we treat:

sports concussions

The term concussion might make you think of someone knocked unconscious while playing sports. But concussions — temporary disruptions of brain function — can happen with any head injury, often without a loss of consciousness.

dislocations

A dislocation is an injury to a joint — a place where two or more of your bones come together — in which the ends of your bones are forced from their normal positions. Dislocations often occur in contact sports, such as football and hockey, and in sports that may involve falls, such as gymnastics and volleyball.

knee pain

Because the knee is such a complex joint with many moving parts, knee injuries are quite common. Frequent causes of injuries are overuse, sudden stops or twists, or direct blows to the knee. Injuries such as sprains, ligament tears, tendonitis are very common in sports.

sprains

Sprains are common injuries, especially among active older kids and teens who play sports. Sprains usually are caused by injuries that involve turning, twisting, or stopping suddenly, such as twisting an ankle. A bad sprain may take a month to heal, sometimes longer.

strains

Strains are an injury to a muscle or tendon. Tendons connect muscle to bone. Strains are often managed with time off, physical therapy, and a gradual return to avoid repeating the same injury. Treatment plans vary and can be customized around a sports season.

growth plate injuries / irritation

Growth plates are the areas of rapid growth in each bone. These injuries are unique to children and should be managed by pediatric experts. In a child who is going through a growth spurt, the growth plate is more susceptible to injury than other parts of the bone and muscle. Growth plate pain can be from overuse or from an identifiable injury.

exercise induced asthma

Many kids with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. Cold, dry air that's inhaled during exercise is believed to be the main cause of these symptoms. But with careful management, they usually can do anything their peers can do.

skin infections

Minor trauma to the skin (such as scratches) and poor skin hygiene increase the potential for infection. Symptoms of these infections can vary depending on where they appear on the body. Common skin infections include ringworm and impetigo.

sports nutrition

Kids and teens who are involved in all-day competitions or endurance sports (like rowing, cross-country running, or competitive swimming) may need to consume more food to keep up with increased energy demands. Most athletes will naturally eat the right amount of food their bodies need. But if you're concerned that your child is getting too much or too little food, check in with your doctor.